One
of the latest hardware devices coming out of Redmond is all about improving
the latest technology, providing superior value while still providing
essential functionality to your desktop. This device is just one of the new
high-precision mice Microsoft has released this year. Does this mouse live up to
its promises? Read on to find out.

New! Proprietary High Definition Optical
Technology puts ultimate performance in the palm of your hand. Microsoft’s
new line of High Definition mice uses technology that is two generations
ahead of standard optical and laser mice. These mice are equipped with the
exclusive Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System for smoother tracking,
1,000 DPI for more responsiveness and 6,000 FPS for better precision.

New! Magnifier tool enlarges any section of the
screen, enabling real-time magnified viewing and editing of images,
documents, Web sites and more. Simply push the Magnifier button and move
the cursor over any portion of the screen you want to enlarge.

Ambidextrous grip design provides enhanced
comfort in either hand, and the shape of the mouse provides more contact
with your hand, so it takes the pressure off and is easy to use.

Proprietary mouse Tilt Wheel delivers
revolutionary capabilities with four-way scrolling. You can now scroll
smoothly vertically and horizontally, and enjoy more control and ease when
navigating long Web pages or spreadsheets.

Four customizable buttons can be easily changed
to perform popular commands with a single touch.

Setup & Installation

Setup: The installation is quite
simple. Just plug in the mouse which requires USB or PS/2 ports. To use the
magnifier or to use the advanced functionality, you must install the
Microsoft IntelliPoint software (see below).

Microsoft
IntelliPoint Software

If you want to customize
your mouse, you will have to install IntelliPoint 5.3 (about 60 MB), which
requires a restart. To customize your mouse keys, select either "Mouse" for
the Control Panel or "Microsoft Mouse" from the program menu. On the buttons
tab you can click on the different buttons and reassign the keys to a
variety of functions. In this software you can also change your pointers,
other pointer options, view which hardware is connected, change scrolling
options, and view wireless features. The software is easy to use and is
required for advanced functionality of the mouse.

Mouse Design

The mouse has the exact
same shape as the other Microsoft Wireless Laser 6000 released
this season. The Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 is about 5 inches long, 2.5
inches wide, 2 inches high and weighs just a few ounces. The mouse
includes four buttons (two on top, the wheel and one side).One of the new features of the mouse is the
magnifier button. This new magnifier allows you to bring an zoom box on the
screen in all types of programs. One really cool thing about this feature is
if, for example, you use it in Excel, Word, etc. you can edit within the
zoom box. This feature is a much improved version of the accessibility
magnifier feature within Windows. The side button
(which is red) is meant to be the magnifier, but you can reassign that
functionality if you wish. Of course, the mouse has the Tilt Wheel technology included, which allows you to scroll
left and right as well as having the additional button. The mouse has a
two-tone silver and black color design and is very aesthetically appealing.
The top panel is all one piece but still easily retains the two button
functionality. The scroll wheel is the standard transparent white. Finally,
the cord is black and of ample length. Because the mouse is ambidextrous,
both left and right handed users will be able to use it.

Microsoft High
Definition Optical Technology

Microsoft has provided a well deserved
update to an already great optical technology. This product includes the new
Microsoft High Definition Optical Technology which aims to improve
performance at much higher levels than the previous optical technology. The
technology is 6000 frames per second (FPS) - an improvement over the 2500
FPS of most of the previous optical mice. Other technology improvements that
have been made include 1000 dots per inch (DPI) resolution (responsiveness),
85 million operations per second (MOPS), .18 CMOS technology (preciseness)
and the Microsoft Intelligent Tracking System (smoother tracking). Microsoft
optical technologies have been well tested for many years now and work
smoothly on most surfaces. It has been broken-in well with previous mice, so
you know you won’t have any problem.

I give kudos to Microsoft for providing
such great value for the improved technology and features the Microsoft
Comfort Optical Mouse 3000 includes. The already great optical technology
has been vastly improved to be more responsive, more precise, and much
smoother. In addition, not only is the magnifier feature great for
accessibility reasons, but also allows easy editing of small text, data,
etc. Moreover, the mouse has a stylish, and attractive design and provides
all the standard features (such as the Tilt Wheel) you have come to expect
from Microsoft mice. If you are in the market for a entry-level wired mouse,
I definitely recommend you purchase the Comfort Optical Mouse 3000.